Variable-speed-transmission apparatus.



J. A. WILKIN. VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILE D MAYIZ. 19H. A

Patented Apr.-20, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- fi li i l i i i l ll li l i l l li hlllllll WITNESSES /1 rr IIll/l/E/VTOR r V I "m rs J. A. WILKIN.

VARIABILE SPEED TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIZ I914- I Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lNI/E/VTOR I also an apparatus in which the parts may JOSEPH A. WILKI or1VIATAMORAS, PENNSYLVANIA.

VARIABLE-SPEED-TRANSMIS$ION AIFPAR-ATUS.

Specification of Letters latent. Patent-ed Apr. 20, 1.915.

Application filed May 12, 1914. Serial No. 838,012.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn A. WILKI a citizenof the United States, residingat Matamoras, in the county of Pike andState of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improve ment inVariable-Speed-Transmission Apparatus, of which the following is aspecifi-v cation.

My present invention relates to apparatus for transmitting power atvariable speeds, and is adapted for, use in motor cars, motor boats,factories, and other similar places, where it is desirableor necessaryto provide for a change of speed at which any given mechanism is drivenwithout changing the speed of the prime mover.

The object of my present invention is the provision of a transmissionapparatus in which the spur gears, which are preferably employed, arealways in mesh, thereby avoiding the danger and liability of strippingthe teeth of these gears in effecting a change in the speed ofthe drivenmechanism,

when the gears are brought together afterhaving been separated; an.apparatus in which the drive and driven shafts employed are preferablyin alinement and may be directly connected to turn in both directionsand disconnected so that the drive shaft may be moved independently ofthe driven shaft; an apparatus in which a suitable shaft is employed andpreferably placed in a posinon parallel with the said drive and drivenshafts, one set of the spur gears, as willbe understood, being fixed toa counter-shaft,

so that the same may be turned fromthe drive shaft and its motiontransmitted to the. driven shaft; an apparatus inwhich suitable clutchor connecting devices are associated with the spur gears, turned by thedrive shaft, or employed for turning the driven shaft, the spur gearsand the clutch devices with which the same are associated,

being mounted independently of the said drive and driven shafts, so thatthese shafts are relieved of the duty of carrying the weight of theseactuating parts, thereby effecting an economy in the power employed todrive the apparatus; an apparatus in which none of the actuating partsassociated with thedrive and driven shafts are turned or brought intoplay, at any time, except when actually in use, which, as will beunderstood, results in a further savingof thev power necessary to drivethe apparatus; and

be operated in an oil bath within the casing so as to work noiselesslyand with as little friction as possible, all of which will behereinafter more particularly described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan and.

partial section illustrating the variable speedtransmission apparatusmade in accordance with my present invention. Fig.

2 is acsectional elevation on line 2, 2, Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3, 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on line 4, 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is afront elevation of the drivedisk face at one end of the drive shaft. Fig. 6 is a perspective viewillustrating one of the dog members employed in the clutch. Fig. 7 is ,aside elevation of one of these dog members. Fig; 8 isaside elevation ofone of the rings employed to operate the clutch members, showing indotted lines a rack by which the ring may be revolved. Fig. 9 is a sideelevation illustrating one face of the journal block, with cams thereon,adapted to coeperate with similar cams on the ring members employed foroperating the clutches, and Fig. 10' is'a view illustrating, in sideelevation, the members of the clutch employed in my present invention,in the order in which the same are placed in assembling, the parts toform the clutch.

Referring to the drawing, my improved variable speed transmissionapparatus preferably comprises a drive shaft 10, journaled at one end ina sleeve 11, which is mounted in a bearing block 12, the drive shaftlObeing circular in cross section. I also employ a driven shaft 13, which,at one end, of the transmission apparatus, is. adapted to turn in asleeve 14, mounted in the bearing block 15. This driven shaft 13 ispreferably rectangular in cross section, and passes through and isadapted to turn in a series ofbearing blocks 16 and 17 The diameter ofthe bearings in these blocks is substantially equal to the diagonaldimension of the driven shaft 13, the number of these bearing blocks,illustrated in the drawing, being three, because lindrical end 18 of thedriven shaft, in order 19 is provided with a series of segmental plates21, providing for recesses 22 between the adjacent ends of thesesegmental plates. The recesses 22,.as clearly shown in Fig. 5, areradially disposed and are wider at their inner than at their outer ends.On the right hand side of the drive disk 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,I employ a clutch case 23. This member preferably comprises a rim 24, ofthe same diameter as the drive disk, and a web 25, connecting the rim 24with a hub or.

flange 26, adapted to fit over and turn upon the adjacent drive disk hub20, and the web 25 of the clutch case is provided with suit.- ablyspaced openings 27, the purpose of which will be hereinafter indicated.At the side opposite the drive disk 19, this clutch case is fitted witha face plate 28,- which may be secured in position therein by means ofscrews 29, which pass 'therethrough and are.

turned down into tapped lugs 30 provided for this purpose on the innerside of the rim of. the clutch case, as is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.-Within this clutch case, I employ a plurality of dogs 31. Each of thesedogs, on

' one face, has a rib 32, and on its opposite face a trunnion 33,extending from which latter face there is also a pin 34. Each dog '31also includes a tooth 35, and associated with each dog is a spring 36which is preferably connected thereto by a screw and washer 37 orotherwise;

The face plate 28 is provided with suitably spaced openings,corresponding in position with the openings 27 in the web of the clutchcase, andeach of these openings 38 is adapted to receive the trunnion 33of one of the dogs, the trunnion passing through the opening and beingjournaled therein. The face plate 28 is also provided with series ofelongated openings 39, through each of which the pin 34 of one of .thedogs v31 passes. The rib 32 of each of these dogs extends through one ofthe openings 27, in the web of the clutch case, and into one of therecesses 22, between the ends of the segmental plates 21 on the adjacentface of the drive disk 19, and the operation of these parts will behereinafter more. particularly described.

Exteriorly of the face plate, 28, each pin 34 is fitted with a button40, the outer surface of which is tapered or pointed, each button 40being secured in position relative to its pin by means of a stop arm 41,which is fixed by a screw 42, passed through the end of its stop arm andinto a tapped opening provided therefor in the trunnion 33 of thecorresponding dog. On the end of the rectangular driven shaft 13,-adjacent the end of the drive shaft, is a collar 43. This collar 43extends within the clutch case and therein is provided with a series ofspaced teeth 44, and intermediate recesses 45. As will be seen, byreference to Figs. 3 and 4, wherein .these features are clearlyillustrated, the

teeth 44 are substantially the same extent as the recesses 45, for thepurpose which will readily appear from the description of the operationof the dogs in connection with these teeth and the intervening recesses.

It will be understood that the collar 43 is maintained in position onthe driven shaft 13 and caused to revolve therewith by being providedwith a rectangular recess through which the driven shaft passes. On the001- lar 43 is a ring 46, adapted to turn freely thereon. On one side,this ring 46 is provided with an inclined face 47 adapted to 7 43. Alsoas shown in Figs. 2 and 8, a rack bar 51 may be employed and actuated by,levers orany. other suitable means to partially revolve the ring 46,-inorder, through the cams 49 and 50. to shift the same longitudinally onthe collar 43.

Suitably placed on the drive shaft 10 is a divided collar, the parts ofwhich are indicated at.52. The adjacent ends of this collar are providedwith projections and intervening recesses, the projections on the oneextending into and fitting, within the recesses on the other, so thatwhen in position, these parts form a connected member. one end, thedivided collar 52 is provided with a series of spaced teeth 53, similarin all respects to the teeth 44 in the collar 43, and these teeth 53extend within a clutch case 54, which is similar in all respects to theclutch case 23, except that it is on the opposite side of'the drive disk19 and consequently in a reversed position.

The clutch casev 54 is provid d with a web 55, and is fitted with dogs56, similar to the dogs 31, and a face plate 57, similar to the faceplate 28,'while the opposite face of the drivedisk 1 9is provided. witha series of .spaced segmental plates 58, similar in all respects to thesegmental plates 21. The opposite end-of the divided collar 52 extends.into the bearing block 64, and between the that through the action ofthe cams 62 and 63, which are similar, respectively, to the cams 49 and50, this ring 59 might be shifted longitudinally on the'collar 52. Onthe op: posite side of the bearing block 64, and between the. same andthe bearing block 12, the drive shaft 10 is fittedwith a gear 65, whichis loosely mountedthereon. Between the bearingblocks 16 shaft 13 isfitted with with an' a erture adapted to receive the driven sha t so asto be turned thereby, the opposite ends of the collar 66 being journaledin the bearing block 16 and an extension 67 of the bearin block 17 Onthe extension' 6 of the bearing block 17, there is a clutch case 68,similar to those hereinbefore described, being provided with a faceplate 69 and a Web 70, terminating in a suitable hub adapted to turn onthe extension 67 of the bearing block 17. On this extension 67 is alsoloosely mounted a gear 71, provided on one face with segmental I plates72 with intervening recesses, each adapted to receivea rib 32 of one ofthe series of dogs employed in this clutch case, the dogs bein similarin all respects to I those hereinbe ore described.

' a periphery Mounted to turn loosely on the collar 66 is a ring 73.This ringis'als'o' rovided on one side with an inclined face 4, adaptedto contact with the buttons 40 of the dogs employed-in the clutch case68, and also has with, the teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of arack 92, in order to turn or partially revolve the ring 73, in order,through the action of' the cams 76 and 77, to shift the ring 73longitudinally on the collar 66. Similarly, between the bearing blocks15 and 16, a collar 78 is placed upon the driven shaft l3, this collarbeing provided with a recess through which the shaft passes in order toturn therewith. At one end, this collar 78 is j'ournaled in the bearingblock 15, and at the other end in an extension 79 of the bearing block16. On the extension 79 of the bearing block 16, is a clutch case 80,fitted with a face plate 81 and a web 82, and adapted to contain aseries of dogs 31, in the same manner as the clutch cases hereinbeforedescribed. Also mounted on the extension 79, of the bearing block 16, isa gear 84, provided on one face with spaced segmental plates 83 tocooperate with the dogs of the clutch case, in the same manner as.similar structures hereinbefore deg5 scribed. On the collar 78 is a ring85, on

and 17, the driven, a collar 66 provided I 44, the teeth 35 of one sideof which there is an inclined face 86, adapted to engage the inclinedfaces of thebuttons/lO, associated with the'dogs employed in the clutchcase80, and on'its periphery the ring 85 is provided with a gear wheel87 adapted to mesh with the teeth on a rack 90, to revolve or'partiall'yrevolve the ring 85, so that through the cooperation of the cams 88 and89, the ring 85 may be shifted longitudinally on a collar 78. I alsoemploy a countershaft, indicated at 93. This is journaled in suitablebearings and is provided with a series of spur gear wheels,

indicated, respectively, at 94, '95 and 96, the

gear wheel 94 meshing with the gear wheel 65,-the gear wheel 95 meshingwith the gear wheel 71, and thegear wheel 96 meshing with the gear wheel84. V

In the operation-of the hereinbefore described apparatus, the series ofdogs in the clutch case 23 are employed to directly connect ordisconnect the drive shaft 10 and the driven shaft 13. These dogs areemployed in oppositely disposed pairs, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, onepair being employed to turn the driven shaft in one direction, and theother pair to turn the driven shaft in the opposite direction, dependingof course upon the direction upon which the drive shaft 10 is revolved.These dogs are so placed that when either pair is in engagement with theoppositely disposed teeth the dogs are'adapted to engage the teeth 44 ofthe collar 43. The corresponding teeth 35 of the other pair of dogs mayrest upon the surfaces of the teeth 44, which are in engagement butadjacent the opposite ends thereof. It will also be apparent that inturning the drive disk 19 from the drive shaft 10, and depending uponthe direction in which these parts are turned, one set of dogs. 31, inthe clutch case 23, will be turned into engagement with the teeth 44,while the will be turned out of engagement with these opposite pair ofdogs teeth, this being accomplished through the dogs being swung ontheir trunnions 33 by the dogs before the teeth thereof come into"contact with the teeth of the collar. Still furthermore, it will beapparent that the springs 36 employed with each of the dogs is only ameans of assisting the action thereof. I

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the parts tion, as will be understood,the drive shaft disconnecting are in position for the drive shaft todrive the driven shaft directly. It will be understood, however, thatthe rack 51 may be moved to turn the ring 46 to shift the same fromright to left, as shown in these figures, through the action of the cams49 and 50, in order to cause the inclined surfaces of the ring 46 tobear against of the buttons 40 and the dogs 31 to swing all of the dogsout of operative contact with the teeth 44 and the collar 43, in whichposi- 10 will be turned independently of the driven shaft 13. The ring59 may then be shifted, through actuating the ring 91, to release thedogs associated with the clutch case 54, permitting them. to engage theteeth on. the the gear by and with the drive shaft 10.

This, as will be understood, drives the counter-shaft 93 through thegear wheel 94 and the counter-shaft 93 either through the gears 95 and71, or the gears 96 and 84 may be connected to the driven shaft 13 toturn the same by suitably operating either the ring 73 or thering 85 tothrow in orout the dogs employed in their respective clutch cases, inorder to. effect the different speeds of the driven shaft from thecommon or uniform speed of the drive shaft.

It is to be noted that the particular invention, involved in thisapplication, relates to the manner in which the actuating parts aremounted on the pair of bearing blocks independently of the driven shaft,in order, as hereinbefore stated, to relieve this shaft 'of carryingthese parts, when not in use, and hence reducing to a minimum the powernecessary to drive or turn the driven shaft alone.

The specific 7 a connection between the same and the said gear andclutch device, and means for 'operating the said clutch device to causethe same to engage the said collar in order to turn the driven shaftfrom the said intermediate shaft and the said connection and gear andclutch device.

2. A variable speed transmission appara tus comprising a drive shaft anddriven the inclined surfaces divided collar 52, so as to turn' form ofclutch mechanism, hereinbefore shown and described, forms the that, thesame may shaft, means for connecting and disconnecting the drive anddrivenshafts, bearings for the said drive and termediate-shaft, meansfor connecting and disconnecting the drive and intermediate shafts, agear and associated clutch device, so mounted on a bearing of the drivenshaft as to turn independently thereof, a collar fixed on the drivenshaft and adapted to be engaged by the said clutch device, a gear ondriven shafts, an 1n-.

the said intermediate shaft meshing with v the gear associated with thesaid clutch device, and means for actuating the said clutch device tocause the same to engage the said collar.

3. A variable speed transmission apparatus, comprising a drive shaft, adriven shaft. I of rectangular cross section, bearings for the saidshafts, means for connecting and disconnecting the said drive and drivenshafts, an intermediate shaft, means for connecting and disconnectingthe said drive and intermediate shafts, ciated clutch device so mountedon a bearing of the driven shaft as to turn independently thereof, acollar fixed on the said driven shaft and adapted to be engaged bythesaid clutch device, a gear intermediate shaft and meshing with theaforesaid gear, a ring loosely mounted on the said collar, and meanssaid ring to cause the same to connect and disconnect the said clutchdevice with and from the said collar. a

4. A .variable .speed transmission apparatus comprising cross'section, adriven shaft rectangular in cross section, bearings for the said shafts.an intermediate shaft, means for connecting and disconnecting the driveand driven shafts, a divided sleeve on the drive shaft, a clutch memberassociated with one part of thesaid divided sleeve, a-gear connected tofor actuating the a gear and assofixed on the a drive shaft, circular inthe other part of the divided sleeve, means gear and clutch devicesmounted on the bearings of the said. driven shaft, so that the same mayturn independently thereof,

a plurality of gears on the intermediate shaft, each of which isgagement with one of the, said plurality of gears of the gear and clutchdevices on the bearings of the driven shaft, andmeans for connecting anddisconnecting any one of the said plurality of gear and clutch devicesto and from the said driven shaft so be turned from the intermediateshaft and the gears thereon.

5, A variable tus comprising cross section, a

a drive shaft, circular in driven shaft, rectangular in constantly inen- I speed transmission apparacross section, bearings for thesaidshafts,

an intermediate shaft, means for connecting sleeves mounted on andsecured to the said.

driven shaft, a corresponding number of gear and clutch devices eachmounted on a bearing, and one of the said sleeves on the driven shaft,so that the same may be turned independently thereof, acorrespondingnumber of gearssecured to the said intermediate shaft, each meshing withone of the said gears of the said gear and clutch devices, and

' means for connecting and disconnecting the said gear and clutchdevices to the said sleeves, so that the said driven shaft may be turnedthrough the same and the corresponding gears on the intermediate shaft.

Signed by me this 30th day of April, 1914.

JOSEPH A. WILKIN.

Witnesses:

F; E. WILKIN, EMERSON E. S'rnm.

